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Most Important College Football Game for Each Top 25 Team During 2016 Season

By Zach Bigalke

Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) moves past Mississippi Rebels linebacker DeMarquis Gates (3) during the fourth quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) moves past Mississippi Rebels linebacker DeMarquis Gates (3) during the fourth quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 12, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Darreus Rogers (1) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the second quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Darreus Rogers (1) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the second quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

9. USC Deals Washington 26-13 Loss in Seattle (Nov. 12)

USC was ranked 20th in the preseason AP Top 25 and 17th in the Coaches poll. But a 1-3 start to the season dropped the Trojans out of the rankings, and they remained out of the national picture through the month of October and into November. Even after rattling off five straight wins to get to 6-3 and become bowl eligible, pollsters had little reason to vault Clay Helton’s team back into their Top 25 lists. Heading to Seattle on the second weekend of November, USC was a 7.5-point underdog and few expected them to take down the undefeated Huskies.

The two teams traded field goals in the first quarter, but that masks a growing confidence from young starter Sam Darnold at quarterback. The QB shook off an early interception on USC’s opening drive to finish the first half 13-of-17 for 185 yards and a touchdown. Darnold also rushed for 14 yards and was responsible for 11 first downs before halftime. Washington struck quickly on a 70-yard Jake Browning TD pass to John Ross in the third quarter, but the Huskies would get no closer on the scoreboard. Darnold finished with 287 yards as the Trojans bled clock on the ground, and Ronald Jones II led all rushers with 93 yards and a score.

USC ultimately failed to win the Pac-12 South ahead of a Colorado team that it beat head-to-head, but the Trojans won the bigger prize in the end. While the Buffaloes won the division, they finished behind the Trojans in the College Football Playoff Top 25 and dropped from the Rose Bowl to the Alamo Bowl. Thanks to this high-profile win by USC, they will be the Pac-12 team at the Granddaddy of Them All for the first time in eight years.

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